Orioles prospects 8/25: Norfolk makes like the big league club

Norfolk Tides 12, Durham (Rays) 0

This was a bit of a beatdown, punctuated by the Tides racking up five runs in the ninth inning when the Bulls sent out position player Michael McKenry to pitch. Pedro Alvarez victimized McKenry for a two-run homer, the 26th dinger of the year for Alvarez in Norfolk. Earlier in the game, Chance Sisco hit his seventh homer of the season for the Tides.

Along with Alvarez, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski picked up a three hit night. Yaz scored three runs as well.

Tides starter Jason Wheeler gave up just two hits and a walk over four innings. I’m not sure why he was lifted after having thrown only 63 pitches. He was followed by two scoreless innings pitched by Matt Wotherspoon, one by Vidal Nuno, and another two scoreless from Donnie Hart.

Bowie Baysox 2, Altoona (Phillies) 0

Not nearly as exciting of a game as the Tides played, with the two teams combining for just six hits here. Both Baysox runs were scored by outfielder D.J. Stewart, who doubled for one of the four hits and also drew a pair of walks in the contest.

The 2015 first round pick now has a .274/.374/.475 for the season. When your OBP is 100 points above your batting average and your slugging percentage is more than 100 on top of that, you’re probably doing OK.

Starting pitcher David Hess held the Curve to just a walk and a hit in eight strong innings pitched. Hess had a tough start to the season, but he’s now lowered his season ERA to 3.91.

Frederick Keys 1, Potomac (Walgreens) 0 (Game 1 - 7 innings)

The O’s and Washington affiliates played two, which in the minor leagues means seven innings regulation. The Keys only had five hits in the game, but a first inning run proved to be enough as starter Cristian Alvarado logged the seven inning complete game shutout, holding the P-Nats to just four hits.

Potomac (Walgreens) 5, Frederick Keys 0 (Game 2 - 7 innings)

Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. The Keys got only three hits in this game. All five Potomac runs were unearned in the fifth inning. Unearned runs still mean you can lose.

Delmarva Shorebirds 4, Charleston (Yankees) 3 (10 innings)

Despite committing three errors, the Shorebirds were able to score a run each in the eighth and ninth to tie the game and then one more in the bottom of the tenth to walk it off. They did this despite getting out-hit, 11-7, in the game.

Starting pitcher Matthias Dietz allowed a bit of a hit parade, giving up eight hits and two walks in just 4.2 innings of work. Three runs scored off of Dietz, two of which were earned. Tyler Erwin locked down 3.1 scoreless, with Steven Klimek adding two more to pick up his sixth win of the year.

Preston Palmeiro, son of Rafael, delivered the walkoff with two outs in the bottom of the tenth. This was his second hit of the game.

Vermont (Athletics) 5, Aberdeen IronBirds 2

The IronBirds had 9 hits here to the Lake Monsters having 7, but with only two of their hits going for extra bases, it turned out not to be enough.

Starter Cameron Bishop, the 26th round pick the O’s almost didn’t sign, held Vermont to just one hit in four innings, though he also surrendered three walks. Bishop struck out six batters and now has 29 strikeouts in 25.2 innings for Aberdeen.

Two unearned runs scored against Bishop, which appear to be the result of the 12th passed ball of the season allowed by Ben Breazeale. The IronBirds catcher has only been behind the plate for 22 games. Breazeale added another two hits in this game, though, and now has a .944 OPS in 50 games played.

Complete box scores from Friday’s games, including the adventures of the GCL Orioles, can be found here.

Saturday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk: at Durham, 6:35. Starter: Jayson Aquino
• Bowie: at Altoona, 6:00. Starter: John “The Ends Justify The” Means
• Frederick: at Potomac, 5:15 (doubleheader). Starters: Ofelky Peralta, TBD
• Delmarva: vs. Charleston, 7:05. Starter: Max MacNabb
• Aberdeen: at Vermont, 6:05. Starter: A different TBD